Mail sorting and distributing machine



Jan. 29 1924. 1,482,311

' F. R. LONG ET AL MAIL SOR'I'ING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 17 9 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 14 mm to! Y'X'zz/ Eloy ww couo 7 6/1/775 E, L f

M airman Jan. 29 1924.

' F, R. LONG ET AL MAIL SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE WWW 912 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sum/"tow ed Jan.

Original nub/masses G rte mag Jan. 29 1924. 1,482,311

F. R. LONG ET AL MAIL SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 17. 1912 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 29, 1924. 1,482,311

F. R. LONG ET AL.

MAIL SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 17. 9 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Emu W005 Fee/E L0? 07/6730 5. A. 007 F"! Jan. 29 1924.

F. R. LONG ET AL MAIL SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE original Filed Jan. 17, 1912 s Sheets-Sheet 5 K ib ii Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

1,482,311 v UNITED, STATES PATENT, OFFICE;

FRED R. LONG AND CLINTON E. LONG, 01' BERWIOI, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL SOBTI NG AND DISTRIBUTING MINE.

Application flled lanuary 17, 1012, Serial no. 671,660. Renewed Kay 11, 1922. lerial mimosa.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED R. LoNu and CLINTON E. LONG citizens of the United States, residing at l3erwick, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Sortin and Distributing Machines, of which the ollowing is a specifica- .tion.

This invention relates to the subject of store service and, more particularly to a machine embodying means for mechanically sorting and distributing single pieces or units of mail whereby letters and like units of mail may be sorted and distributed with greater speed and accuracy than is possible with the usual system of sorting and distributing by hand.

To this end the invention has in view the provision of means for mechanically sorting and distributing, with dispatch and accuracy, large quantities of mail, not only in post oflices, but in railway ostal cars and other locations where a mac ine of this character would be available and useful. In this connection the invention contemplates a machine that will satisfactorily obviate the objections that exist to the present method of sorting and distributing pieces of mail by hand, wherein great loss of time is occasioned, not only by the manual handling of large bunches of letters or the like to read the address thereon, but also in moving constantly from one position to another in the act of distributing pieces of mail in the various compartments or pouches where they belong. By way of improving these conditions, and at the same time accomplishing everything that is possible? by the resent s stem of manual sorting and distributing, t e invention claimed herein embraces a series of instrumentalities that provide means for primarily presenting the mail units or pieces for visual inspection and classification by the o erator, and means for selectively providing or the automatic carrying of the piece of mail to the compartment or other receptacle designed to receive the same, and there automatically depositing or discharging the mail when such point is reached.

A further object of the invention is to pro- ,vide means whereby a single operator, through the medium of a keyboard arrangement, can selectively control the carrying and depositing of single pieces or units of mail, while at the same time handlin a large amount of mail matter, limited only by his speed and skill in manipulating the ke board. Also in carrying out this object t e invention includes a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the 0 ration of the entire machine is controllab e solely through the individual keys of the keyboard, so that it is impossible to feed a letter or like unit of mail unless there is a mail engagin clamp in position to receive the same; an furthermore, until the various arts of the feeding mechanism and of te carrying means for the mail units are in precise operative relation. the keyboard is locked against operation, so that a key cannot be de ressed to initially set any particular combination of instrumentalities.

With these and other objects in view,

which will more readily appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

The essential features of the invention, involved in carrying out the general objects above indicated, are necessarily susceptible to a wide range of structural modification without departing from the scope of the invention, but for i lustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings one practical embodiment thereof; in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail sort ing and distributing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions of the machine bein broken away toexpose certain features 0% construction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, illustrating more plainly the relation of the conveying carrier to the controlling keyboard and to the mechanism that singly feeds the pieces or units of mail to the mall-engaging clamps that travel over the various compartments or receptacles.

Fig. 3 is a sectional front view of the ma.- chine, illustrating the general relative arran ment of the different instrumentalities at t e front of the machine, particularly those for automatically controlling the o ation of the feeding mechanism from the eyboard, and for rimarily presenting the mail units for visu inspection and classification by the operator at the time that a unit of mail is delivered into one of the mail-engaging clamps which carries it to the point of de ivery or deposit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the machine illustrating more plainly the construction of the selective carriers and the trip mechanisn therefor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the individual selective carriers and the trip mechanism, illustrating the operation of the latter to secure an opening of the mail clamp or holder to release the mail .at the point where it is to be deposited.

Fig. 6.is a detail plan view of a section of one of the selective carriers.

Fig. 7 is a detail and view projected from Fig. 6 to illustrate more clearly the construction and mounting of the movable jaw of the mail-engaging-clamp.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the tripping rock-shafts.

Fig. 9 is an end viewprojected from Fig. 8 illustrating the manner of mounting the said rock-shaft to limit its oscillation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the relation of the individual keys or keylevers to the complemental selector, and also more clearly showing one form of construction for the selector.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view illustrating more plainly tie construction of the controlling device for the feed mechanism, which controlling device acts as a lock for the keyboard, and is itself operated by the individual keys of the keyboard.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The machine forming the subject-matter of this application embodies in its general organization a series of instrumentalities that provide for performing, with accuracy and dispatch, all of the operations of sorting and distributing mail that are now usually performed by hand and through the agency of a number of employees, it being intended by the present invention to provide a machine capable of permitting one operator, at a single keyboar to sort and distribute a much greater quantity of mail matter than has heretofore been ossible by a number of clerks, thus efi'ecting reat economy in that particular while at tie same time embracing the other advantages above pointed out. To this end the machine broadly includes, in combination with a plurality of distributing compartments or receptacles for receiving the mail according to the destination or other classification thereof, a conveyor having a plurality of carriers for simultaneously carrying a number of single pieces or units of mail at the same time, a feeding mechanism for feeding the mail units singly to any section of the conveyor, and in sue 1 a manner as to primarily present the mail units for visual inspection and classification by the operator, and a keyboard mechanism for selectively setting the conveyor sections, herein termed selective carriers, to automatically release the mail units for deposit at the selected compartment or rece tacle, without regard to the number or order of pieces or units of mail on the conveyor. While this may be accomplished by various mechanical expedients, a simple and practical construction for carrying the same into effect is illustrated in the drawing, and specific reference will now be made thereto.

In this embodiment of the invention, that is, the one shown in the drawings, the letter A designates an endless conveyor which may be of any suitable construction, such, for instance, as a conveyor consisting of a air of chains 1 1, that pass around the sproc ets 2 and 3 upon the respective shafts 4 and 5. This conveyor A is provided with a series of conveyor sections B that may be termed selective carriers, inasmuch as each of said sections is not only provided with means for positively engaging a letter or other like unit of mail, but also with selector elements that are set by the keyboard to provide for depositing the mail at any selected oint. Referring particularly to the illustration of these conveyor sections or selective carriers, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that each of the same includes a mailenga ing clamp C, and a supporting rod 6 for t e tripping selectors to be presently referred to, said rod being carried by suitable brackets 7 upon the chains 1, and one end of which rod may be conveniently utilized as a support for the laterally projecting mail-engaging clamp belonging to that section of the conveyor. Also, it will be observed, that the rods 6 have fitted to opposite ends thereof the rollers 8 which are preferably arranged to travel upon tracks rails 9, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The mail-engaging clamps C that project laterally from one side of the conveyor, and preferably horizontally, each consists of a fixed jaw-member 10 which is fast on its supporting rod 6 and a movable spring-jaw 11 fitted at one end to a pivot-axle 11 journaled in suitable bearings 11 carried by the body of the clamp, and which movable spring-jaw 11 is normally held yieldingly in operative clamping position against the fixed jaw 10 by means of a pressure spring 12 suitably mounted on the axle 11, and so arranged as to normally exert its tension in the direction indicated, said spring also acting to control the position of a clamp releasing lever (26) hereinafter referred to.

The mail-engaging clamps C travel over a series of compartments or receptacles 13 which are shown as arranged in an upper tier D and a lower tier E, it of course being understood that the number and arrangement of said com artments is controlled entirely by the number of stations represented by the keys of the keyboard. and the narticular space or locality to which the machine is adapted, and, as will be hereinafter pointed out, means are provided for causing the mail-engaging clamps C to automatically deposit the mail in any selected one of the said compartments or receptacles 13.

Referring more particularly to the selectors that form a part of each conveyor section or selective carrier, it will be noted that a series of tri ping selectors is mounted on each of the ro s 6. In each series of the tripping selectors there. is the same number of such selectors as there are keys in the keyboard and as there are corresponding compartments or receptacles 13, so that the mail-receiving clamp C of each selective carrier has immediately associated therewith on the same section of the conveyor the means for selecting the point of deposit or release for the unit or piece of mail carried by such clamp, the range of selection being any one of the entire series of compartments or receptacles. As for the construction of the individual tripping selectors, the same may conveniently consists of collars or disks 14 closely arranged in side by side relation upon the rods 6 and capable of limited rotary movement thereon in two directions, that is, to an operative position in interfering relation to the trip mechanisms, and to a normal inoperative position wherein any one of the said collars or disks may be'brought into play by the key on the keyboard that belongs thereto and is in line therewith. These collars or disks 14 are shown as provided with a key-engaging lug 15 and also with a tripoperating lug 16, the said trip-operating lug being normally swung into an inoperative osition. An operators selecting keyboard is arran ed at one end of the conveyor A and inclu es a series of keys 17 which are pivoted upon a shaft 18 and are provided at their outer ends with suitable finger-pieces 19. One of these keys 17 is provided for each of the compartments 13 and collars 14, the inner end of each of the keys being formed with a projection or abutment 20 which is adapted to bemoved into the path of the lug 15 of the collar 14 for the purpose of rotating the said collar 14 to swing the trip operating lug 16 thereof into an operative position. It will thus be obvious that as the carriers B pass around the end sprocket wheels 2 nearest the keyboard, any selected one of the collars 14 may be rotated to bring the trip-operating-member or lug 16 thereof into an operative position by mas nipulating the proper key 17. i

A trip-mechanism is provided for each of the compartments 13, the said trip mech anism being suitably constructed for engagement with the lug 16 of the collar 14, corresponding to the said compartment 13, to release the mail and cause the same to be dropped. into the compartment. These trip mechanisms each comprise a rock-shaft 21 suitably mounted in bearings 22 carried by suitable supporting bars 23. A pair of tappets 24 and 25, which are arranged at an angle to each other, project from each of the rock-shafts 21, the tappet 24 being suitably arranged noon the shaft and normally projecting into the path traversed by the lug 16 of the corresponding collar 14, when that lug is moved into operative position, and the tap et 25 being conveniently utilized to have a p ay between stop pins 25 on one of the bearings for the rock-shaft 21 so as to limit I the movement thereof in. both directions. However, when the lug 16 is not in operative position, it will not be engaged by the tappet 24 of the respective rock-shaft 21, but will pass by the same without actuating the trip mechanism.

The tap ets 25 are all arran ed at one end of the roc -shafts 21 so as to swung into operative position by the rotation of the rock-shafts. When one of the rock-shafts 21 is rotated by engagement of the tappet 24 thereof with the corresponding lug 16 of one of the collars 14, the tappet 25 is swung into the path of a releasing lever 26 which has an operative connection with the ivot axle 11 of the spring-jaw 11 of the mall-engaging clamp The movement of the conveyor A brings the releasing lever 26 into engagement with the tappet 25 so as to open, and thus release, the spring-jaw 11 and cause the letter or other article of mail to be deposited in that one of the compartments 13 corresponding to the trip mechanism which was actuated by the lug 16 of the collar 14. A suitably arranged releasing bar or equivalent element G may be arranged in a path of interference with respect to the lugs 16 that had been previously set to operate trip mechanisms, so that before the collars or disks carrying said lugs reach the point for cooperation with the keys or key-levers of the keyboard, the same will be restored, by the said resetting bar or element G, to their original inoperative positions.

After the mail has been deposited in the compartment 13 and the mail carrier is moved beyond the trip device, the rock-shaft 21 of the said trip device is returned to normal osition by means of a coil spring 27 which is applied to one end thereof, one of the ends of the coil spring being connected to the rock-shaft, while the opposite end thereof is secured to the bearing 22. It will be noted that the trip devices for the lower tier of compartments 13 are arranged above the lower reach of the endless conveyor, while the trip devices for the upper tier D of compartments 13 are arranged under the upper reach of the endless conveyor.

ny suitable means may be provided for feeding the articles of mail singly to the spring-jaws of the various clamps C. For

this purpose a pair of cooperating endless belts 28 may be provided, the said belts passing around the rollers 29 and being arranged to receive letters or similar pieces of mail between the same, and to force the letters between the jaws and 11 of the clamps C as the said clamps lie opposite to and are alined with the feed device. The letters 30 or like pieces of mail may be placed in a chute or equivalent magazine 31 so as to bear against a roller 32 at the open end thereof, the said roller being rotated in such a direction as to act u on that letter which is in contact therewith and move the same edgewise. The letter is thus discharged individually from one side of the chute 31 and forced between the two endless feed belts 28. These feed belts 28 grip the letter and force the same between the jaws 10 and 11 of that one of the mail-engaging clamps which is opposite the feed device. In order to facilitate entrance of the individual letters or articles of mail between the jaws of the mailengaging clamps C, it will be observed that the outer ends of the said jaws are flared as indicated at 10 and 11*, respectively. These flared outer ends of the jaws will serve to direct the letters into proper position between the jaws without difliculty.

As hereinbefore indicated, the invention includes means for primarily presenting the mail units for visual inspection and classification by the operator, that is to say, the feeding mechanism presents the unit or iece of mail to the mail-engaging clamp rea y to receive the same, in such manner that the address thereon is presented for easy reading by the operator at the keyboard, and from the description already given it will likewise be understood that the keys 17 of the keyboard correspond to the difl'erent stations, towns, or places for which the mail is to be sorted, and the names of these places may appear upon the fingenpieces 19 of the keyboard, so that as a piece or unit of mail presents itself to view from the feeding mechanism the operator depresses that key corresponding to the address appearing upon the mail. Thus, when one articular key 17 is depressed. say, the Wasiiington key, the projection 20 at the end of the Washington ey is brou ht into engagement with the lug 15 of the ashington collar 14 so as to rotate the said Washington collar and bring the trip-operating lug 16 thereof into operative position. The other collars 14, corresponding to the remaining keys 17 and other possible laces of destination, will not be moved, and t e carrier having the Washington piece of mail will accordingly pass under all of the various trip devices until it reaches the trip device for that compartment 13 designed to receive Washington mail. The tappet 24 of the Washington trip device is properly disposed longitudinally of the shaft 21 to engage the lug 16 of the Washington collar 14 when the said lug has beenlmoved into operative position by actuation of the Washington key 17, as previously explained. The engagement of this lug 16 with the tappet 24 of the Washington trip device Wlll serve to rotate the rock-shaft 21 to bring the tappet 25 of the \Vashington t1 ip device into engagement with the releasing lever 26 of the mail-engaging clamp of the carrier. The spring-jaw 11 will thus be forced momentarily away from the fixed jaw 10 so as to release the article of mail and cause the same to be deposited in the Washington compartment 13. As previously explained, a key 17 and collar 14 is provided for each of the compartments 13, and by operating the proper key corresponding to the address upon the article of mail in the carrier, the mechanism can be set so as to automatically deposit the article of mail in the proper compartment. This entirely eliminates the necessity of distributing the mail by hand, and enables a single operator to quickly and accurately distribute large quantities of mail matter.

Provision is made for preventing letters 30 or similar articles of mail from being fed to the clamps faster than the operator can manipulate the keys 17. The feed mechanism is driven by a shaft 33 which is adapted to be connected by a clutch 34 to a drive shaft 35. This drive shaft 35 may be geared to the shafts of the conveyor A or receive power from any other suitable source. As indicated by Fig. 3, the drive shaft 35 is connected by the gearing 36 to a shaft 37, the said shaft bein provided with a disk 38 having a series 0 angled cam grooves 33 in the peripherythereof. These cam grooves are adapted to receive a pin or projection 40 upon one of the arms of a bell-crank lever 41 which is mounted upon a shaft 42. The opposite arm of this bell crank lever 41 carries a universal bar 43 which extends under all of the keys 17 of the keyboard. With this construction it will be obvious that when any one ofthe keys 17 is depressed, the bar 43 will be forced downwardly and the bell-crank lever 41 rotated upon the shaft 42. This brings the pin or projection 40 into the angular portion 39 of one of the camslots 39, and as the disk continues to rotate, this pin 40 is moved laterally into the straight portion 39" of the said cam slot. This lateral movement of the pin is possibleowin to the fact that the lower arm of the be] -crank lever 41 is provided with a hinged joint 44, the said joint being so arranged that the hinged portion of the bell-crank lever is moved toward and away from the disk 38 when the bell-crank lever is rotated upon the shaft 42, although it can swing freely to admit of the pin 40 moving laterally within the cam slots 39. The hinged lower end of the bell-crank lever 41 is connected by a link 45 to a plun er 46 which is slidabl mounted within suita le uides 47. This p un er is connected to a s ifter lever 48 whic controls the clutch 34. spring 49 which surrounds the plunger 46 and is interposed between one of the guide-sleeves 47 and a pin 50 normally tends to move the 'plun er in such a position as to normally open t e clutch and hold the pin 40 over the inclined portions 39 of the cam slots 39 in the disk 38. This disk 38 is always rotating, and when one of the keys 17 is depressed, the pin 40 enters the inclined end 39 of one of the cam slots and is directed thereby into the straight portion 39" of the said cam slot. This movement of the pin 40 in the slot as the disk 38 rotates serves to swing the hinged end of the bell-crank lever laterally and to move 20 the plunger 46 against the action of the spring 49 so as to close the clutch 34. The clutch 34 remains closed and causes the feed mechanism to be driven as long as the pin 40 remains in the straight portion 39" of the cam slot 39, and the gearing and connections are so arranged that one article of mail will be then fed to one of the carriers B. The cam slots 39 are also arranged upon the disk 38 so that when the i in 40 enters one of the cam slots 39, one o the carriers B will be disposed opposite the feed device so that the articles of mail ejected by the feed device will be received between the spring-jaws of the carrier. When the pin reaches the inclined end 39 of the cam slot 39 it is raised out of the cam slot 39 and then swung laterally back into its origi- ,nal position by means of the spring 49. It will thus be obvious that the various ar- 40 ticles of mail are fed to the carriers upon the conveyor just as rapidly as the selective mechanism for properly depositing the same can be actuated by the ke s 17, although it is impossible for mail to fed to the machine faster than it can be taken care of by the operator. That is to sa according to the construction described, t e feed mechanism acts as a lock for the keyboard, and is itself operated by the individual keys, and

60 the advantages of this action arise from the fact that it thus becomes impossible to feed a piece of mail, unless there is a clamp in position to receive it, and unless the pin 40 can enter the inclined portion of one of the slots in the cam disk 38 the key-levers cannot be depressed to set the combmation.

Furthermore, it will be observed that the straight portions of the slots in the cam disk are of sufiicient length to keep the clutch engaged lon enough to feed one piece of mail into the fiatter clamp that lies at the receiving station, and the number of slots in the cam disk is equal to the number of mail clamps passing the receiving. station during 05 one revolution oi the sprocket wheels.

On reading the address of the mail unit 30 (Fig. 3, for instance) the operator immediately depresses the corresponding key 19; the pin 40 thereupon enters the end 39 of the slot in disk 38 then under lever 41, whereupon the tumbler-setting-up end 20 of said key 19 instantly rises in front of the proper tumbler of the slowly advancing clamp carrying the mail unit 30 inspected, to set said tumbler to cause delivery of said mail unit in the proper box. The continued rotation of the rapidly moving disk 38 forces the pin 40 laterally in said slot to shift the clutch 34 and rapidly drive the belts 28 to deliver the next mail unit for inspection and distribution to the following clamp C of the slowly traveling conveyor. By t e time pin 40 is discharged from said slot, the said next mail unit is exposed for inspection and the operator immediately depresses the key 19 corresponding to its address to set up the proper tumbler of its clamp and to set in motion the means to bring about another mail unit feeding action of belts 28. The depression of a key sets up the tumbler of the clamp car ing the inspected letter (said letter having n fed to the clamp as the result of the previous depression of a key? and also sets in action means to cause elivery of the nextmail unit to the following clamp.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described machine will be fully understood in all essential particulars, and though the details of construction are necessarily susceptible of structural modification, it might be further explained that, according to the embodiment illustrated, the collars or disks are of a divided type so as to be frictionally clamped upon t e rods 6. To provide for this, each of said collars or disks 14 has its split or divided portion connected b a clamping screw or bolt 50 which may e so tightened that the collar or disk is held upon its su portin rod 6 with suflicient friction to ho d the co lar or disk rigid enough for operating a tri ping rock shaft 21, in the manner previous y described. Also there is shown in the drawings a limiting means for the individual collars or disks 14 consisting of a projection 51 on the supporting rod 6 which .extends into a limitin ove or slot 52 provided in the hub o t e collar or disk.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

j 1. In a mail/sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyor for carrying a number 0 single pieces of mail at the same time, means for feeding the mail singly to the diflerent carriers, selective means for causing the carriers to automatically deposit the mail at any one of a series of oints in their course of travel, and means or preventing the mail from being fed to the carriers except when the latter are in position at the receiving station.

2. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyor for carrying number of single pieces of mail at the same time, means for feeding the mail singly to the different carriers, key-board selective means for causing the carriers to automatically deposit the mail at any one of a series of points in their course of travel, and means for preventing the mail from being fed to the carriers except when the latter are in position at the receiving station.

3. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyor, a key-board controlled so ective mechanism for causing the carriers to deposit the mail, feeding means for supplying articles of mail singly to the carriers, a clutch controlling the feeding means, a rotary disk havin a cam slot therein, a swinging member ormed with a projection adapted to enter the cam slot, means for causin the said projection to enter the cam slot w en any one of the keys is manipulated, and an operative connection between the swinging member and the clutch whereby the clutch is closed and the feed mechanism caused to supply a iece of mail to one of the carriers upon eac operation of one of the keys.

4. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyor, a keyboard-controlled selective mechanism for causing the carriers to deposit the mail, feeding means for supplying articles of mail singl to the carriers, a clutch controlling the Feeding means, a rotary disk having a cam slot therein, a lever formed with a projection adapted to be swung into the cam slot, the portion of the lever having the pro'ection being hinged so as to be swung laterally by the movement of the projection in the cam slot, means for operating the lever to throw the projection into the cam slot when any one of the keys of the keyboard is operated, and an operative connection between the hinged portion of the lever and the clutch.

5. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, 8, series of mail carriers upon the conveyor, a keyboard controlled selective mechanism for causing the carriers'to deposit the mail, feeding means for supplying articles of mail sin y to the carriers, a clutch controlling the eedin means, a ro tary disk having a cam slot t erein, a lever formed with a projection adapted to be swun into the cam slot, the portion of the lever aving the projlilaction being hinged so as to be swung latera y by the movement of the projection in the cam slot, means for operating the lever to throw the projection into the cam slot when any one of the keys of the keyboard is operated, and an operative connection between the bin ed portion of the lever and the clutch, w ereby the lateral movement of the hinged portion of the lever closes the clutch and causes the feed mechanism to supply an article of mail to one of the carriers when one of the keys is operated.

6. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyor, a keyboard-controlled selective mechanism for causing the carriers to deposit the mail, feeding means for feeding articles of mail singly to the carrier, a clutch controlling the feeding means, a bar extending across all of the keys of the keyboard, a bell-crank lever having one end thereof connected to the bar while the opposite end thereof is hinged to swing laterally and formed with a rojection, a rotary disk having an angle cam slot therein adapted to receive the projection of the bellcrank lever when the said bell-crank lever is moved by the manipulation of one of the keys, the movement of the projection within the cam slot serving to swing the hinged portion of the bell-crank lever laterally, and an operative connection between the clutch and the hinged portion of the bell-crank lever, whereby th1s lateral movement closes the clutch and causes the feed mechanism to supply an article of mail to one of the carriers.

7. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier upon the conveyor, 3, series of rotary members mounted upon the conveyor and formed with trip en aging lugs which travel in difi'erent pat s and are normally moved into inoperative position, keyboard mechanism for engaging any selected one of the rotary members and moving the same to bring the trip-enga 'ng lug thereof into operative position, an a series of trip devices corresponding to the various rotary members and ads ted to cause the carrier to desosit the mail when actuated, the said trip evices being formed with tappets adapted to be engaged by the trip-engaging lugs of the corresponding rotary members when the said lugs are in operative position.

8. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier upon the conveyor, a series of rotary collars mounted upon the conveyor and formed with trip-engaging lugs which travel in different paths and are normally swung into inoperative position, a keyboard mechanism for rotat ing any selected one of the collars to bring the trip-engaging lug thereof into operative osition, a series of rock-shafts arranged at different points adjacent to the path of the conveyor, the said rock-shafts corresponding in number to the difierent collars and being provided with tappets adapted to be engaged by the tri -engaging lugs of the respective collars w en the said lugs are in operative position, and means actuated by the rock-shafts for causing the carrier to deposit the mail.

9. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier upon the conveyor having mail-grip ing jaws, a releasing lever carried by t e conveyor for causin the jaws to release the mail, a series of roc shafts arranged at different points adjacent to the course of travel of the carrier, each of the rock-shafts being formed with a tappet adapted to be swung into the path of t e releasing lever and also with a second tappet, a series of trip-operating devices upon the conveyor corres onding in number to the difl'erent rock-sha ts and normally swun into inoperative position, and means for t rowing any selected one of the trip-operating means into operative position so that it will engage the second mentioned tappet of the corresponding rock-shaft and actuate the rock-shaft to throw the first mentioned tappet thereof into engagement with the releasing lever and cause the mail to be deposited.

10. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier u on 'the conveyor, the said carrier inclu mg means for positively engaging the mail, a releasing lever upon the carrier for causin the carrier to re ease the mail, a series 0 movable trip-engaging elements mounted u on the conveyor, the said trip-engaging e ements travehng in difi'erent paths and being formed with key-engaging lugs, a kegboard including keys corresponding to t e difierent trip-operating elements, each of the keys being constructed to engage the lug of the corresponding trip-engaging element to move the trip-engaging e ement and throw it into operative position, and a series of trip devices arranged along the course of travel of the carrier, the various trip devices corresponding to the different tripoperating members of the carrier so that an one of the trip-operating elements which has been thrown into operative position will engage its respective trip device and actuate the same, each of the trip devices including means for engaging the releasin lever of the carrier.

11. n a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier upon the conveyor, the said mail carrier including means for positively engaging an article of mail, 'a releasin lever upon the carrier for causing the mai to be deposited, a series of collars mounted upon the carrier so as to travel in different paths, each of the collars being formed with a key-en aging lug and a trip-operating lug and eing normally turned to throw the trip-operating lug intoan ino erative position, a keyboar including a ey for each of the collars, the said keys being constructed to engage the key-engaging lu s of the respective collars to rotate the colars and throw the tripoperating lugs thereof into operative posi tion when the keys are manipulated, and a series of trip devices arranged along the path of travel of the mail carrier, the various trip devices corresponding to the different collars and each of the trip devices including means for engaging the releasing lever of the carrier to deposit the mail.

12. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a conveyor, a mail carrier upon the conveyor, the sa1d carrier including means for positively engaging an article of mail means upon the carrier for causing the mail to be released, a series of trip-operating elements upon the carrier, the said trip-operating elements being normally in inoperative position, means for moving any selected one of the trip-operating elements into an operative position, and a series of trip devices arranged along thepath of the carrier and corresponding to the respective tri -opera:- ing elements of the carrier, each 0 the trip devices including means for enga ing the respective trip-operating element 0 the carrier and also means for operating the releasing means of the carrier.

13. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, an endless conveyor, a mail carrier u on the conveyor, the said mail carrier in- 2 c uding a transverse rod applied to the conveyor and a normally closed mail-engaging clamp projectina from one side of the conveyor, releasing means u on the carrier for opening the 0 amp to e osit the mail, a series of trip-operating e ements mounted upon the rod and normally assuming an inoperative position, keyboard controlled means for throwing any selected one of the trip-operating elements into operative position, and a series of trip devices arranged at intervals along the path of travel of the carrier, the said trip devices corresponding to the different trip-operating elements and includin means tor actuating the releasing means 0 the carrier.

14. In distributing apparatus, in combination, selective mechanisms determining the delivery points of articles to be delivered comprising series of sets of similar tumblers, the tumblers of each set being independently rockable to and from normal and set up positions, means to cause discharge of letters at points of destination and each provided with distinctive operating means requirin a certain tumbler set up to cause actuatlon of said operatin means, propelling mechanism whereby said sets of tumblers move in succession into operative relation with said distinctive operating means, and

manually controlled tumbler adjusting or settin up mechanism common to all of said sets 0 tumblers and into operative relation with which said sets of tumblers successively move.

15. In distributing apparatus, in combination, series of article-discharging devices at the different points of destination, each discharging device provided with operating means, each operating means being distinctive with respect to the remaining operating means whereby each operating means can be actuated only by a certain tumbler set up, an endless conveyor common to all of said dischargin devices and provided with a plurality 0% uniformly spaced and located sets of similar rockable tumblers, each set of tumblers being carried by and mounted on an axis moving with said conveyor and adapted to be adjusted to the set up required to actuate any one of said operating means, said sets of tumblers successively moving past all of said operating means, settin up mechanism common to all of said sets of tumblers, said sets of tumblers successively movin past said setting up mechanism, manual y controlled means for operating said setting up mechanism, and means for returnin the tumblers of each set to normal position after said tumblers have actuated an operating means.

16. In distributing apparatus, series of keys corresponding to and indicating series of points of distribution, distributing mechanism for conveying letters to and discharging them at said various points of distribution and provided with and oarr ing series of selecting devices determining the point at which each letter shall be deposited, means for successivel delivering letters to said distributing mechanism, setting up mechanism for adjusting said selecting devices to cause delivery of each letter at a certain oint, and operating connections between said keys and said setting up mechanism, said setting up mechanism comprising a series of independently adjustable fingers normally arranged in inoperative position, and periodically movable lockin and returning means.

17. In distributing apparatus, an endless conveyer for moving letters to the various points of distribution, said conveyer provided with series of similar sets of pointsof-distributionselecting tumblers, the turnblers of each set being independently adjustable, a series of tumbler setting up fin gers in number equal to the number of tumblers in each set, said fingers being independently adjustable to operative position with respect to said tumblers to adjust the same, said sets of tumblers successively passin into operative relation with respect to sai fin ers, and series of keys corresponding to an indicating the various points of distribution and operatively connected with and controlling the adjustment of said fingers to operative osition.

18. In distributing apparatus, in combination, an endless continuously traveling conveyer rovided with an endless series of carriers or mail units to be distributed, means for successively delivering mail units laterally to said carriers while said units are in upright position, said means being arranged to one side of said conveyer and manually controlled means determining the station at which each carrier discharges its mail unit.

19. Mail distributing apparatus providin a unit inspection station and characterized by an endless conveyer provided with individual mail unit carriers constructed and arranged to receive the units when arranged vertically on edge and moved endwise toward and laterally with respect to the conveyer from one side thereof and to drop the units at their destinations, and unit feeding means arranged beside the conveyer.

20. In distributing apparatus, a conveyer embodying individual mail unit carriers, each constructed and arranged to longitudinally receive a mail unit through one end and to drop such unit at its destination, means controlling the destination of each mail unit, and feedin means arranged beside said conveyer an constructed and arranged to successively advance the units end wise into said carriers.

21. In a mail distributing machine, a conveyer, a letter feeder arranged to feed letters horizontally, a series of receptacles arranged to receive letters dropped vertically, a series of carriers on said conveyer arranged to pass along side the letter feeder and receive the letters horizontally therefrom laterally with respect to the conveyer and to pass over the receptacles and dro the letters vertically into the same, and means to cause said carriers to drop the letters in predetermined receptacles.

22. The combination with a letter feed table, anendless carrier, and receptacles arranged adjacent to said carrier, of a feed device whereby the letters a-re fed successively from the feed table to the carrier, and a releasing device whereby the letters are discharged from said carrier into said receptacles, said feed device being arranged to one side of the vertical plane in which the carrier is located and being constructed and arran ed to maintain the letters upright and feeiI them substantially horizontally in position for inspection.

23. In a mail distributing machine, a conveyer, carriers on the same for transporting letters, means laterally to one side of said conveyer for moving the letters endwise from the same into the carriers, said carriers constructed and arranged to receive the letters as moved endwise from said means and laterally with respect to the conveyer and to drgp the letters at their destinations.

Distributing a aratus comprising conveying means for diiiivering the units to be distributed at various discharge stations, a series of sets of tumbler selectors movin in unison with said convgying means an controlling the delivery 0 said units,'setting up mechanism for said selectors and cooperating therewith under the power of the forward drag of the selectors to shift the selectors to the required set u s while advancing, and a keyboard contro ling said setting up mechanism.

25. Distributing ap aratus comprising conveying means for de ivering the units to be distributed at various dischar e stations, keyboard controlled mechanism or delivering units to said conveying means, a series of selectors moving in unison with said conve ing means and controlling the delivery of said units, setting up mechanism for said selectors and co- Feratin therewith under the power of the orwar drag of the selectors to shift the selectors to the required set ups while advancing, and a keyboard controlling said setting up mechanism.

26. In a mail distributing machine, a conveyer provided with carriers constructed to horizontally receive letters throu h their ends and to drop the letters verticaI discharging them, a loading station embodying mechanism to feed letters horizon.

tally into the ends of said carriers, a series of receptacles located below the carriers to receive the letters as the are dropped, and means to cause the drop ing of the letters in predetermined receptac es.

27. In distributing apparatus in combination, a conveyer provided with individual mail unit carriers movable in an endless path that includes -u per and lower horizontal len ths, rows 0 receptacles arranged along sai len hs, each carrier arranged to discharge t e unit advanced thereby into any one of the receptacles of said rows while said carrier is traveling along either of said lengths, selective means controlling the discharge of each unit, and means for successively feeding the mail units to said carriers.

28. In distributing apparatus, in combination, a series of carriers traveling in an end= less circuit along upper and lower rows of discharge stations, each carrier arranged to advance a unit to be distributed from a common point to and discharge the same at any one of said upper or lower dischar e stations, mechanism to feed the units to t e 'carriers at said common. oint, relativelydistinctive meansnlon sai upper and lower discharge stations to ring about discha e of the carriers, and selective devices trave ing with the carriers 'to cooperate with said ly whenfrom the conveyor at any one of said means in determining the particular station at which each unit is discharged.

29. In distributing apparatus, in combination, a series of carriers traveling in succession in an endles circuit along horizontal up er and lower rows of discharge stations, eac carrier moving successively past each station and from row to row, each carrier constructed and arranged to receive a unit to be distributed and to discharge the same at any one of said upper and lower stations, means for feeding units one at a time to carriers, said series of carriers being arranged to carry a number of units at the same time, selective means for causin each carrier to be automatically discharge at a predetermined station, said selective means being operable for discharge of any number of units carried at the same time by said series of carriers without regard to the order thereof, settin -up mechanism for said selective means, an controlling means for said setting u mechanism.

30. In distri uting apparatus, several adjacent approximately horizontal rows of discharge stations arranged at difl'erent elevations one over the other, a conveyor provided with a series of individual mail unit carriers traveling in an endless circuit past all of said stations and from row to row and each arranged for the discharge of its unit at any one of said stations, relative] distinctive devices corresponding to sai stations to bring about discharge of any carrier at said stations, and manually-controlled selective devices for cooperating with said devices for bringing about discharge of any carrier at any station.

31. In distributing apparatus, in combination, upper and lower rows of discharge stations, an endless traveling conveyer provided with clamps movable in a circuit past each station of a row and from row to row, each clamp being constructed to release its lead at an station of any row, and manually controlle 'means for redeterminin the station at which each 0 amp will disc arge.

32. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, upper and lower horizontal rows of discharge stations, aconve or having means for carrying a number 0 pieces of mail along said upper and lower rows of discharge stations, means for feeding the mail units sin lyto the conveyor, and manual] controlled selective means for causing t e mail units to be automatically dischar ed ischarge stations, said selective means bein operable for any number of pieces of mm on the'conveyer at the same time without regard to the order thereof.

33. In a mail sorting and distributi chine, upper and lower rows of disc arge stations, a conveyor having a pluralit of carriers for carrying a number of single pieces of mail at the same time along the upper and lower rows of discharge stations, feeding mechanism for mechanically feeding the mail to the carriers for visual inspection by the operator and distribution, and keyboard mechanism for selectively controlling the automatic release of the mail at any one of said upper and lower stations.

34. In a mail sorting and distributing machine, a 'const-antl moving conveyer, a series of mail carriers upon the conveyer, intermittently operating means for feeding pieces of mail singly to the carriers, a keyboard controlled selective mechanism moving with the conveyer for Causing the carriers to deposit the mail at any one of a series of points in their course of travel, and means whereby the feeding of mail to the carriers is controlled by the operation of the keyboard.

35. In a distributing machine, an endless continuously progressing conveyer, a series of carriers upon the conveyer, each of the carriers being provided with means for positively gripping a unit to be distributed, means upon each of the carriers for causing the unit to be discharged, means for feedin units to the carriers while progressing, an selective means for causing the carriers to deposit the units at anyone of a series of points in their course of travel.

36. In a distributing machine, a conveyer having a carrier, a series of trip-operating members mounted on a common axis movable with the conveyer and arranged to travel in different paths, a series of trip devices having tappets projecting into the different ,paths of the various trip-operating members and means for rocking any selected one o the trip-operating members into operative position to positively engage and move the corresponding trip devlces to cause dlS- charge of the carrier b the force of the forward movement of the conveyer.

37. In distributing apparatus, in combination, a row of discharge stations, a series of clamps, means for causing said clamps to travel in an endless circuit past said stations, means for successively delivering flat units to be distributed to said clamps in a direction longitudinally of the clamps, means for causing discharge of said units in a direction transversely of the clamps and at right angles to the direction in which said units are fed into the clamps, and selective devices controlling said means for causing discharge of the units and predeterminin the station at which each unit is discharge 38. Apparatus for distributing fiat units from a common source to various discharge stations, a row of discharge stations, an endless conveyer arranged to receive units at said source and convey the same to said stations, feeding means for successively delivering units to said conveyer at said source in a horizontal path extending laterally from the side or edge of the conveyer, said conveyer arranged and constructed to permit vertical discharge of the units at said stations, and selective mechanism determining the station atwhich each unit will be discharged.

39. Apparatus for distributing fiat units from a common source to various discharge stations, comprising a row of such stations, an endless conveyer constructed and arranged to successively receive such units in a certain path of movement and to discharge such units in a direction at right angles to said path, feeding means at said common source to successively deliver said units to said conveyer along a certain path of movement, means to cause dischar e of the units from the conveyer at said disc arge stations alon paths of movement at right angles to said certain path, and selective mechanisms determining the station at which each unit is delivered.

40. Apparatus for distributing flat units from a common source to various discharge stations, comprising a row of receptacles having top inlets, continuously moving meansfor conveying such units in a horizontal ath over said inlets and for permitting vertical discharge of such units from said path into said inlets, means for maintaining a stack of the units to be distributed, feeding mechanism for successively feeding said units in a horizontal path from said stack to said continuously moving means, and selective mechanism determining the inlet to which each unit shall be vertically discharged from said continuously moving means.

41. The combination with an endless continuously moving conveyer for the units to be distributed, and receptacles arranged adjacent thereto, of a keyboard-controlled normally-inactive feeder for deliverin units one at a time to the conveyer, and key ardcontrolled selective devices predetermining and controlling the discharge of units from said conveyer. said selective devices continuously moving in unison with said conveyer.

42. In combination, in a mail distributing apparatus, a continuously moving letter conveyer, a series of adjustable selective elements determining the delivery points of the letters from the conveyer, keyboardcontrolled means for successively feeding letters to said conveyer, a setting-up mecha nism common to all of said elements and for setting the same, a series of manuallycontrolled keys, and operating mechanism therefrom to said setting u mechanism to determine the position to w ich the same shall be moved.

43. Distributing apparatus comprising a Inn series of carriers, means for continuousl moving the carriers in a circuit past various discharge stations, keyboard-controlled means for feeding the units to be distributed to the respective carriers, and a continuously moving series of keyboard-controlled selective devices controllin the delivery of units from the carriers at ischarge stations predetermined by said selective devices.

44. Distributin apparatus comprising a series of receptac es, a series of carriers for conveying units and distributin the same to said receptacles, mechanism or moving said carriers in a circuit past said receptacles, a keyboard-controlled normally-inactive feeder for delivering units one at a time to said carriers as said carriers are advancing past said feeder, means whereby said feeder and carriers are so 0 eratively arranged and controlled that the eeder delivers a unit only when a carrier is in position to receive the same, and keyboard-controlled selective devices predetermining and controlling the delivery of the units from the carriers, said selective devices moving in unison with said carriers.

45. In mail handling apparatus, the combination of a letter-moving conveyer, a series of receptacles arranged beneath the same to receive sorted letters, a keyboard controlled letter feeding and controlling mechanism arranged beside said moving conveyer and adapted to feed letters to the conveyer transversely of the same, and a keyboard to control said conveyer to sort the letters into said receptacles and to control said letter feeding mechanism.

46. In a mail handling apparatus, the combination of a letter-moving conveyer, a series of receptacles arranged beneath the same to receive sorted letters. and a letter feeding and controlling keyboard mechanism to control the conveyer to sort the letters into receptacles and embodying letter feeding devices arranged beside said eonveyer and adapted to feed letters to the conveyer transversely of the same.

47. In distributing apparatus, in combination, a series of successive traveling carriers for distributing units to a plurality of discharge stations, each carrier provided with a selector controlling the dischar e thereof, a holder for a supply of units to e distributed. conveying means for successively receiving units from said holder and delivering units one at a time to said carriers, respectively, and a keyboard controlling said selectors and said conveying meansgeach keyboard operation causing a unit advancing operation of said conveymg means and the setting up of a selector controlling the discharge of a unit advanced by a previous letter advancing operation of said conveying means.

48. In distributing apparatus, in combination, a series of successive travelin carriers for distributing units to a plura it of discharge stations each carrier rovlded with a selector controlling the discharge thereof, a holder for a supply of units to be distributed, conveying means for successively receiving units from said holder and delivering units one at a time to said carriers, respectively, and a keyboard controlling said selectors and said conveying means, each keyboard operation causing a unit advancing operation of said conveying means and the setting up of a selector controlling the discharge of a unit advanced by a previous letter advancing operation of sai conveying means, said a paratus constructed and arranged to disp ay each unit to the view of the operator for selector setting ke board o eration after said unit has been a vanced rom said holder as the result of previous keyboard operation.

49. Distributing apparatus comprising a unit distributing conveyer, keyboard controlled selectors traveling with the conveyer, and keyboard controlled conveying means for successively advancing units and delivering them one at a time to said distributing conveyer, said conveyer, selectors and means being combined, constructed and arranged to require each keyboard operation to cause a unit advancing operation and the setting up of a selector controlling the final distribution of a previously advanced unit, and to cause each such previously advanced unit to be displayed to the view of the operator preparatory to the operators actuation of the keyboard to set up the selector controlling the distribution of such displayed unit.

50. In a mail handling apparatus, the combination of a letter-moving conveyer, a series of receptacles arranged beneath the same to receive sorted letters. and a letter feeding and controlling keyboard mechanism arranged beside said moving conveyer and adapted to feed letters to the conveyer transversely of the same and control it to sort the letters into said receptacles.

51. In combination, in apparatus for sorting and distributing units; a plurality of unit carriers for distributing units to a plurality of discharge stations; intermittently operating unit feeding means for delivering single units to said carriers; settable selective devices for the carriers, respectively; relativelydistinctive carrier discharge means for said stations, respectively; setting-up mechanism for and common to said selective devices; driving means for con tinuously advancing said carriers in an endless circuit past said feeding means and said discharge stations and for continuously advancing said selective devices in an endless circuit past said setting up mechanism and said carrier discharge means; and keyboard mechanism controlling said feeding means and said setting up mechanism.

52. Distributin apparatus comprisin several non-aline rows of closely-arrange discharge stations; a series of carriers arranged to discharge when either side is up for distributing units to said discharge stations; means for causing said carriers to travel in a circuit for discharging units at any one of said stations of said rows and for causing the carriers to assume reversed positions in different portions of said circuit; a series of selective devices moving in unison with said carriers, respectively, for predetermining the station at which each carrier will discharge the unit transported thereby; discharge means corresponding to said stations, respectively; means for delivering units to be distributed to the respective carriers; and controlling mechanism for said selective devices.

53. In distributing apparatus, in combination, receptacles having inlets arranged in several rows in different planes, a single endless conveyer having a series of carriers each constructed and arran ed to assume reversed positions and when 1n either position to deliver a unit to any inlet of said several rows, keyboard controlled means for delivering units for distribution to said carriers, and keyboard controlled selector devices moving in unison with said carriers, for predetermming the inlet at which the load of each carrier will be discharged.

54. In combination, an endless conveyer, keyboard-controlled means for successively delivering articles to said conveyer while advancing, a series of devices arranged along the path of said conveyer for causing delivery of articles therefrom at selected points while said conveyer is advancing, a series of selective means moving in unison with the advancing conveyer for cooperating while advancing with said devices to cause delivery of articles from the advancing conveyer at selected points, and keyboard-controlled means whereby said selective means are set while advancing to select the delivery points of the articles delivered to the conveyer, each set up selective means while advancing positively co-operating with the selected delivery device to cause relative movement by the power of the forward drag of the advancing selective means, said relative movement causing article delivery.

55. Distributing ap aratus comprising a. series of carriers for t e units to be distributed; keyboard-controlled means for delivering units to the carriers; means for moving said carriers in a circuit past a series of stations at which said units are to be discharged; 9. series of relativel -distinctive means correspondin to sai stations, respectively; each carrier constructed and arranged to receive a unit and deliver the same at a predetermined station and embodying a spring-held member movable from normal position to permit discharge of the unit at the selected station; and a series of selective devices movin in unison with and corresponding to sai carriers respectively, and each constructed and arranged to be set up to select any one of said relatively-distinctive means and positively enage the same and cooperate therewith dur- 1n the continued forward movement of the se ective devices to bring about relative movement by the power of the continued forward motion of the selective devices to move said member of the carrier represented by said selective device from normal position against its spring and permit discharge of the unit from said carrier at the selected station while the carrier is moving for ard.

56. In combination, an endless conveyer, ke board-controlled means for successively de ivering articles thereto, a series of relatively-distinctive devices arranged along the path of said conveyer for causing delivery of articles therefrom at selected points, eac

device movable from normal position to discharge position, a series of selective means movmg in unison with the conveyer for cooperating with said devices to move the same from normal positions to discharge positions to cause su sequent delivery of articles from the conveyer at selected points, and keyboard-controlled means whereby said selective means are set to select the delivery points of the articles delivered to the conveyer, each selective means posi' tively coo crating with the delivery device selected thereby under the power of the continued forward movement of the selective means to cause subsequent article delivery from the conveyer while the conveyer is advancing.

57 In combination; in apparatus for sorting and distributing units; a plurality of discharge stations; a plurality of relatively-distinctive carrier discharge means corresponding to said stations and each movable to and from normal inoperative to operative dischar e osition; a plurality of unit carriers, ey oard-controlled feed means for singl delivering runits to, be distributed to said carriers, a plurality of settable selective devices corres ending to said carriers, keyboard-controll setting up mechanism for and common to said selective devices, and means for advancing said carriers in a circuit st said feed means and said plurality of ischarge stations, and for advancing said selective devices in a circuit past said setting u mechanism and said plurality of carrier dischar e means; each selective device constructs and. arranged to be set up by said setting up mechanism to select any one of said discharge means and to strike the same and under the continued advance of such selective device to ositively move the selected discharge means i rom normal to operative dischar e position and by the continued advance 0 the carriers cause subsequent dischar of the unit from the carrier represented y said positively moved discharge means.

58. In combination; in a unit distributin app)aratus; a plurality of unit carriers eacfi em odying a member movable to and from unit sustaining and unit discharging positions; a plurality of unit discharge stations; a plurality of relatively-distinctive carrier discharge means correspondi to the plurality 0 unit discharge stations; a plurality of settable selective devices corresponding to said carriers; keyboard-controlled setting up mechanism common to and for setting u said selective devices; keyboard-controlle feeding means for delivering units to be distributed to said carriers; means for advancing said carriers in an endless circuit past said feeding means and past said unit discharge stations to discharge units thereto while advancing and for advancing said selective devices past said setting up mechanism and past said carrier discharge means without haltingeach selective device constructed an arran to be set up to select any one of said discharge means and to positively abut the same inadvance of the arrival of the carrier of said selective device at the selected discharge station and to cooperate with said selected discharged means to move the movable member of said carrier while the same advances to cause subsequent discharge of the unit at the selected discharge station.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED R. LONG. CLINTON E. LONG.

Witnesses:

L. S. J AOOBY, Gna'mons CRYDER.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,482,311, ented January 29, 1924, u n the application of Fred R. Long and Clinton fi Long, of Berwick, Pennsy Vania, for an improvement in Mail Sorting and Distnibutin Machin were erroneously issued to the inventors, said Fred R. Lon an Clinton Long, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued oneolf to Mechanical E G'mnpany,'a Corporation of Delaware, a'nd one-half to The Auto Mail Dietribwer, Inez, of Syracuse, New York, a. Corporation of New Y ark, as asaignees, by mesne assignments, of the entire interest in said invention, as shown b the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent ahou d be read with'this correction therein that thesame may conform to the rec'oni of the case in the Patent Oflioe.

-Signed and sealed this 18th day of March, A. D., 1924.

[mu] KARL FENNING,

Acting C'omma'aeioner of Patents. 

